Save Guatemalan Wildlife and Biodiversity!!!

Executive Summary:

Guatemala remains one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, home to unique species that rely on its forests, coasts, and ecosystems. At ARCAS, our mission is to protect and rehabilitate these valuable habitats and species. This report provides an update on our ongoing efforts to conserve wildlife, including animal rescue and rehabilitation programs, habitat restoration, and collaborative community engagement projects. With the generous support of our donors, we continue to make significant strides in safeguarding Guatemala’s natural wonders.

Project Activities and Achievements:1. Forest Nursery: A Vision for the Future

Our Forest Nursery is an ambitious initiative aimed at restoring and protecting Guatemala’s vital ecosystems. The mangrove forests cannot wait — we have already planted 2,000 mangrove trees and have set a target of 30,000 seedlings by 2025. Our ultimate goal is to reach 200,000 seedlings, which will help contribute to the restoration of vital habitats for wildlife and improve the overall ecological health of Guatemala’s coastlines.

In our nursery, thousands of native plants are being carefully nurtured to restore ecosystems that are crucial for wildlife. Every tree planted contributes to a healthier environment for native species, especially those whose habitats are being threatened by deforestation and climate change. This work requires time, dedication, and care, but the results are invaluable.

With your continued support, we will continue planting seeds for a brighter, more sustainable future — one seedling at a time.

2. Turtle Conservation – A Steady Progress at ARCAS Turtle Hatchery

At our Hawaii Turtle Hatchery, we are making tremendous strides in conserving the Parlama sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea), an endangered species vital to the marine ecosystem. Here is a summary of the 2023 turtle nesting season:

• 338 nests planted
• 13,067 turtle eggs planted
• 7,807 neonates successfully released
• 90.33% hatching success rate so far

This year’s progress has been promising, and with continuous monitoring, we are improving our practices to increase the survival rates of these precious creatures. As the season progresses, we are optimistic that the hatching success rate will remain high, ensuring that more turtles make it to the ocean.

3. Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation

Over the past few months, ARCAS has received several animals in need of rescue and rehabilitation, including:

• Three grey fox cubs
• An emerald toucanet
• A tamandua
• A hawksbill sea turtle
• Three brown pelicans
• Two orphaned howler monkeys

These animals were rescued from various situations, including illegal trafficking and road accidents. ARCAS is providing them with the necessary care, rehabilitation, and eventual release back into their natural habitats.

4. Rally Parlama – Raising Awareness and Community Engagement

The Rally Parlama 2024 event continues to be a success, bringing together communities and schools to promote environmental education and awareness. With the participation of 1,115 students from six local communities, the rally involved various hands-on conservation activities such as egg donation, reforestation, and animal welfare workshops.

These activities have inspired a new generation of environmental stewards and have strengthened the connection between communities and the ecosystems they depend on.

The Impact of Your Support:

With your generosity, we can continue to make a significant difference in the fight to protect Guatemala’s biodiversity. Your donations allow us to expand our rescue and rehabilitation efforts, enhance our conservation initiatives, and support local communities in becoming active participants in safeguarding their natural resources.

Imagine what we can accomplish together: Your support ensures that we can:

• Continue rescuing and rehabilitating endangered species.
• Restore critical habitats such as mangrove forests.
• Increase the number of turtles released into the wild.
• Educate and empower the next generation of environmental leaders.

How You Can Help:

Your contribution is essential in helping us reach our conservation goals. Whether it's by donating, spreading awareness, or getting involved, you play a crucial role in preserving Guatemala’s wildlife.

Donate Now – Together, we can ensure a sustainable future for Guatemala’s biodiversity.

Thank You for Your Support!

With heartfelt gratitude,
The ARCAS Team

Guatemala is one of the world's most biodiverse nations, with a wealth of critically endangered species exclusive to its lands. ARCAS acknowledges Guatemala's significance as a sanctuary for these imperiled wild animals and is dedicated to safeguarding the habitats crucial for their survival, while combatting the illicit trade threatening their existence.

Illegal trafficking poses a grave menace to global wildlife, with the vast Maya Biosphere Reserve, the last extensive forested area in Mesoamerica, serving as a prime target for traffickers. Along the Pacific coast, traffickers target sea turtles and yellow-naped parrots. Compounded by governmental resource constraints, ARCAS assumes a vital role in supporting enforcement efforts to protect these invaluable ecosystems.

This progress report offers an update on ARCAS's ongoing crowdfunding campaign, aimed at fulfilling the essential needs of animals undergoing rehabilitation and managing protected areas in Peten, the Pacific coast, and the highlands of Guatemala.

Over the past months, ARCAS has received various injured and confiscated animals at its rescue centers in Peten, San Lucas, and Hawaii. Among them were three grey fox cubs, an emerald toucanet, a tamandua, a hawksbill sea turtle, three brown pelicans, and two baby howler monkeys orphaned due to a car collision. Additionally, ARCAS received 23 parrots, including yellow-naped, mealy, and white-fronted parrots, from the recently closed El Salvador national zoo.

At the Hawaii site, ARCAS continues its efforts to conserve the olive ridley, leatherback, and green sea turtles that nest in the area. In 2023, a total of 7,119 sea turtle eggs were collected, with 5,961 hatchlings released back into the Pacific Ocean. The sea turtle conservation season concluded on March 10th with the release of the last nest.

Amidst the dry season in Guatemala, ARCAS has collaborated in responding to severe wildfires on the Agua Volcano and various parts of Peten, preparing to receive injured wildlife from these blazes.

Details about these wildlife rescue, rehabilitation and release activities are available on ARCAS's social media platforms.

ARCAS’s overarching objective is to conserve Guatemala's biodiversity, ensuring this invaluable legacy endures for future generations. Across all project sites, ARCAS actively promotes sustainable practices such as ecotourism, birdwatching, and handicrafts production, offering to local residents avenues to benefit from biodiversity without imperiling its existence.

Your support in this crowdfunding endeavor transcends a mere contribution; it represents an investment in the preservation of Guatemala's natural marvels and the establishment of a sustainable, harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. Together, we can effect lasting change in Guatemala's conservation landscape.

We are currently working on our 2023 Annual Report and hope to be able to send it out by the end of May.

Gratefully,

The ARCAS Team

Links:

• ARCAS website